A Gibsland man was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated following a disturbance at a local Walmart and a subsequent traffic stop on Fincher Road.
The incident began when Minden police received a report about a possible drunk driver who had caused a disturbance at Walmart before leaving the property. The vehicle, described as a red Jeep, was reported heading southbound on Homer Road. Officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Fincher Road.
The driver, identified as Robert Reed, 49, of Gibsland, displayed signs of impairment. According to the police report, officers detected a faint smell of alcohol and noted that Reed had bloodshot eyes and exhibited slow pupil reaction, raising concerns about possible drug use.
Reed reportedly became upset during the stop, stating he did not understand why Walmart employees had contacted law enforcement, claiming he was there to purchase whiskey for his father.
After being read his rights, Reed agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs). He displayed signs of impairment during the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and struggled with the walk-and-turn and one-leg-stand portions of the evaluation.
Reed was arrested and transported to the Minden Police Department, where he refused a chemical test on the Intoxilyzer 9000. Officers noted Reed’s continued uncooperative behavior during processing.
This is not Reed’s first DWI charge; records show a prior arrest for DWI first offense in 2011 in Shreveport. He has been charged with DWI.
Authorities remind the public of the importance of reporting suspected impaired drivers to ensure community safety.
All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.